Dear Meli,

I hate my job! It’s boring and it sucks the life out of me. And before you say I should just quit, it’s not that simple. I work for a government agency, and I’ve built up a lot of time with them. In order to collect a decent pension, I need to stay there at least another five years. But some days that just feels impossible. Any ideas for me?

Woeful About Work

Dear Woeful,

I am very sorry to hear that you’ve been suffering. And that you feel you must continue to suffer!

It sounds like you have very good reason to stay in your situation. But perhaps you could take on the challenge of seeing if you can recreate your experience of it?

Of course, I do want to suggest that you first make absolutely sure you need to stay. I had a friend once who thought they needed to stay in your job for the benefits they’d receive after a period of time. But when they spoke to the people who had all those details, they discovered it wouldn’t serve them nearly as much as they’d been thinking! The information allowed them to leave years earlier than they’d thought they were going to be able to, without any real downside to the choice!

Alas, this may not be your situation. But it’s certainly worth confirming. Right?

If you do confirm that you are correct, and you choose to stay, here are some suggestions to try while you’re there.

1. Pray. Every type of prayer. Empowered prayer, where you practice until you can imagine feeling joyful about work every morning when you awake. And beseeching prayer, calling on Spirit and angels and all benevolent light and energy beings to help you. Ask them to please support you, and thank them in advance for the fabulous results. Any spiritual practice you can add is great!

2. Treat your situation like a game. A treasure hunt, perhaps. “What can I do to find greater good here? Greater joy?” And then search for it everywhere – in the money you receive, in the people at work you care about and enjoy (even if there’s only one!), in the contributions you make by your presence, etc… Basically, this is a game of find-the-good. I promise that if you truly commit to finding it, you will!

3. Find out if there’s a lateral move you could make that would allow you to land in a position you might find more fulfilling for the remainder of your time there.

4. Find other ways to increase your joy outside of work. Commit to finding ways to spend more of your hours outside work in greater joy. Perhaps more time with those you love? A favorite hobby left behind, or one you’ve dreamed of trying?

5. Ask your innermost peeps for additional ideas. They know you best and might have some great ideas for ways you can make it through this time most gracefully.

6. Make sure there isn’t some other income-producing activity you’d enjoy more that you could do if you left your job sooner. Perhaps there’s some other activity or job that you would find much more palatable. Even if it might mean more years of working before retiring, if it brings greater joy, perhaps that would be worth it?

7. Consider talking all of this out with a counselor or professional who specializes in supporting people in such situations.

8. Take up a daily gratitude practice, if you don’t already have one. Write down a certain number of things for which you’re grateful every day. This can help to counteract the vibration of suffering. This alone might help to shift your experience.

I hope some of these might help. I wish you greater fulfillment and joy. Every day, starting now!

Blessings and Love to you in all you do!

In Joy,

Melissa

What is your experience with shifting – or leaving – unfulfilling jobs? Share your comments below!

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